A system for use in banking operates responsive to data in data bearing records. The system is suitable for securing the contents in safety deposit boxes or similar locked receptacles, and selectively permits access to key locks only to individuals who have been determined to be authorized to have such access. Each safety deposit box or other receptacle includes a door (16) with at least one key lock (22, 24) thereon. An assembly (26) is installed on the preexisting door to limit access to a key lock to an authorized person. The assembly includes a body (32) that is held in a blocking position by a cover lock. A selectively programmable electronic key module (28) is operative to change the condition of the cover lock from a latched to an unlatched condition.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. Apparatus comprising: an assembly operative to control access to at least one key lock opening on a preexisting safety deposit box, wherein the assembly includes: a base, wherein the base is permanently attachable to a safety deposit box door, wherein the base includes at least one aperture, wherein the at least one aperture is positionable in overlying relation of at least one key lock opening of at least one key lock on the safety deposit box door, wherein the at least one aperture provides key access to the at least one key lock opening; a body, wherein the body is movably mounted in operative supported connection with the base, wherein the body is movable relative to the base between a blocking position wherein the body overlies and prevents access to the at least one key opening, and an exposing position wherein the body is disposed relative of the blocking position, and wherein in the exposing position the at least one key lock opening is accessible by at least one key; a cover lock, wherein the cover lock is changeable between a latched condition and an unlatched condition, wherein in the latched condition the cover lock is operative to hold the body in the blocking position, and wherein in the unlatched condition the body is movable between the blocking position and the exposing position, wherein the cover lock includes a bolt, wherein the bolt is movably mounted in operative supported connection with at least one of the base and the body, and wherein in the latched condition of the cover lock the bolt is operative to hold the body in the blocking position; a wireless indicator, wherein the wireless indicator is operative to produce at least one wireless signal, wherein the at least one wireless signal is usable to distinguish the preexisting safety deposit box from a plurality of other adjacent safety deposit boxes; wherein the assembly is operatively releasibly engageable with an electronic key module, wherein the electronic key module is operative responsive to the at least one wireless signal to cause movement of the bolt, wherein the cover lock is changed from the latched condition to the unlatched condition.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly further includes therein an opening, wherein the opening is sized to accept a portion of the electronic key module, wherein the portion of the electronic key module in the opening operatively engages the bolt.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the assembly further includes at least one body hinge, wherein the base and body are operatively movably connected through the at least one body hinge, and wherein in the unlatched condition of the cover lock, the body is rotationally movable relative to the base through movement of the body hinge.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the body further includes a catch, wherein in the exposing position of the body the portion of the electronic key module extending in the opening is held in engagement with the body through operation of the catch.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the catch includes a member, wherein the member is operative to release the catch holding the portion of the electronic key module in the opening, wherein the member is operative to release the catch responsive to movement of the body to the blocking position.
6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the catch includes at least one movable projection extending in the opening, wherein the at least one movable projection operatively engages a portion of the electronic key module, and wherein the at least one movable projection operatively disengages the portion of the electronic key module responsive to movement of the body.
7. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the opening is sized to movably accept an extending portion of the electronic key module therein, wherein movement of the extending portion in the opening is operative to cause the bolt to move, whereby the cover lock is changed from the latched condition to the unlatched condition responsive to movement of the bolt.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the safety deposit box door includes a customer key lock and a guard key lock, and wherein the base includes a first aperture and a second aperture, and wherein the base further includes a shroud wherein the shroud overlies the second aperture, and wherein in the exposing position only a customer key lock opening of the customer key lock is key accessible through the first aperture.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the second aperture is sized to accept a key portion therein, wherein the key portion is operative to hold the guard key lock in an unlocked condition.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising: adhesive material operative to hold the base and the safety deposit box door in engaged relation.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the wireless indicator includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) indicator.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 and further comprising the electronic key module, wherein the electronic key module includes a reader, at least one processor, and at least one programmable data store, wherein the reader is operative to read the at least one wireless signal from the wireless indicator, wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to data in the at least one programmable data store, to determine if data corresponding to the wireless signal and data stored in the at least one programmable data store have a corresponding relationship, and to cause the bolt to move responsive at least in part to a positive determination.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 and further comprising: a device operative to program the at least one data store in the electronic key module, wherein the device is operative to selectively include in the at least one data store, data that is operative to cause the electronic key module to cause the cover lock to change from the latched condition to the unlatched condition.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising: an electronic key module, wherein the electronic key module includes a reader operative to read the at least one wireless signal from the wireless indicator, at least one processor and at least one data store, wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine that the at least one wireless signal has a corresponding relationship to data stored in the at least one data store, and wherein the electronic key module is operative responsive at least in part to the determination to change the cover lock from the latched condition to the unlatched condition.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 and further comprising: a device operative to selectively program data in the at least one data store of the electronic key module, wherein the device is operative to selectively include in the at least one data store, data operative to cause the electronic key module to change the cover lock from the latched condition to the unlatched condition.
16. A method comprising: (a) attaching an assembly to a preexisting safety deposit box door of a preexisting safety deposit box, wherein the assembly includes a body movable relative to the door, wherein in a blocking position of the body, the body overlies at least one key lock opening of at least one key lock of the safety deposit box door, and wherein in an exposing position of the body, the body enables key access to the at least one key lock opening, and wherein the assembly includes a cover lock, wherein the cover lock is changeable between a latched condition and an unlatched condition, wherein in the latched condition of the cover lock the body is held in the blocking position, and wherein in the unlatched condition of the cover lock the body is movable between the blocking position and the exposing position, and wherein the assembly includes a wireless indicator, wherein the wireless indicator is operative to produce at least one wireless signal, wherein the at least one wireless signal is operative to uniquely identify the safety deposit box from a plurality of other adjacent safety deposit boxes; (b) operatively engaging an electronic key module and the assembly, wherein the electronic key module is operative responsive at least in part to at least one wireless signal and a determination by at least one processor in the electronic key module that the at least one wireless signal corresponds to data stored in at least one data store of the electronic key module, to cause the cover lock to change from the latched condition to the unlatched condition.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein (a) includes attaching a base of the assembly to the safety deposit box door, wherein the base includes at least one aperture, and wherein the at least one aperture is aligned with the at least one key lock opening.
18. The method according to claim 17 wherein (a) includes attaching the base to the safety deposit box door with adhesive material.
19. The method according to claim 16 wherein in (a) the wireless indicator includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) indicator.
20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the electronic key module includes an RFID reader, and wherein in (b) the electronic key module is operative to read the at least one wireless signal through operation of the RFID reader.
21. The method according to claim 16 wherein (b) includes extending a portion of the electronic key module in an opening of the assembly.
22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the assembly further includes a catch, and further comprising: (c) holding the portion of the electronic key module in the opening through operation of the catch.
23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the catch includes a member, and further comprising: (d) subsequent to (c), moving the member responsive to at least one of moving the body to the blocking position and changing the cover lock from the unlatched condition to the latched condition, wherein movement of the movable member is operative to release from engagement by the catch, the extending portion of the electronic key module.
24. The method according to claim 21 wherein (b) includes operatively engaging the portion of the electronic key module and a bolt in the assembly, wherein engagement of the bolt is operative to change the cover latch from the latched condition to the unlatched condition.
25. The method according to claim 16 wherein the safety deposit box door includes a guard key lock with a corresponding guard key lock opening, and a customer lock with a corresponding customer key lock opening, and further comprising: subsequent to (a) and prior to (b), extending a key portion in the guard key opening, wherein the key portion is operative to hold the guard key lock in an unlocked condition; whereby a corresponding key inserted in the customer key lock opening is operative to unlock the safety deposit box door.
26. The method according to claim 16 and further comprising: operatively engaging the electronic key module and a device operative to cause the at least one data store to be programmed to cause the electronic key module to change the cover lock from the latched condition to the unlatched condition responsive at least in part to the at least one wireless signal.
27. Apparatus comprising: an assembly operative to control access to at least one key lock opening of a safety deposit box, wherein the assembly includes: a base, wherein the base is attachable to a safety deposit box door, wherein the base includes at least one aperture, wherein the at least one aperture is positionable in overlying relation of at least one key lock opening of at least one key lock on the safety deposit box door, wherein the at least one aperture provides key access to the at least one key lock opening, a body, wherein the body is movably mounted in operative supported connection with the base, wherein the body is movable relative to the base between a blocking position wherein the body overlies and prevents access to the at least one key opening, and an exposing position wherein the body is disposed relative of the blocking position, and wherein in the exposing position the at least one key lock opening is accessible by at least one key, a cover, wherein the cover is changeable between a latched condition and an unlatched condition, wherein in the latched condition the cover is operative to hold the body in the blocking position, wherein in the unlatched condition the body is movable between the blocking position and the exposing position, a radio frequency identification (RFID) indicator, wherein the RFID indicator is operative to produce at least one wireless signal that is usable to distinguish the safety deposit box, wherein the assembly is configured to be releasibly engaged with an electronic module that is operative responsive at least in part to the at least one wireless signal to cause the cover to be changed from the latched condition to the unlatched condition.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 2, 2008
June 14, 2011
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